Refrigerating apparatus



E. F. SCHWELL'R' REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed sept. 19, 1940 June 15, 1943.

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E. F. SCHWELLER REFRIG June 15, i943.

ERTING APPARATUS Filed sept. 19, 1 4o 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INV ENT OR. EJK/mwa 7.' 5cm/wn: can

8%,Mwgda- Patented June 1s, 19434 UNITED 4sin-'n2 s PATENT OFFICE f .n.craicnaa'rmc APPARATUS Edmund F. Schwcller, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton," Ohio, a.

- corporation of Delaware o l Application September 19, 1&940, Serial No.357,455

Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating appara Y tus and particularly to refrigerator cabinets.

An object of my invention is to improve the and illustrating the removal of a shelf support I from the refrigerator cabinet.

appearance of the interior of a household refrigv erator cabinet by providing an improved device for and method of mounting food supporting shelves within the food storage chamber of such refrigerators. l

Another object of my invention is to improve the appearance of the interior of a refrigerator Vcabinet by incorporating mounting devices, for

shelves positioned in the food storage chamber thereof, in the chamber throat structure or in the access door opening wall construction of the cabinet. v

In carrying out the foregoing objects, it is a still further object of my invention to incorpo-v rate adjustable shelf' supports or mounting deouter cabinet walls II and liner I2 (see Fig. 3) topreVent heat leakage into the the food storage chamber. An evaporator I5, of a closed refrigvices for food supporting' shelves of a refrigerator cabinet in the food storage chamber throat struc,

ture or in the access door opening wall construction of the chamber in such a manner that the devices may be readily removed and mounted in other elevated positions to accommodate vertical changes of a shelf within the food storage chamber of the cabinet.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present. invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: A- Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator cabinet showing the food storage chamber door is open position and having shelves supported in the chamber in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of one side of the food storage chamber throat or door opening showing the support of a shelfv therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the refrigerator cabinet taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary vertical sectional `View taken on the line Iiof Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front view of a refrigerator cabinet showing the food storage chamber door in Open position and having shelves supported in the chamber in accordance with a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken o n the line 'I-I of Fig. 6 in a. direction toward the rear of the food chamber showing a shelf and its support in two vertically adjusted positions;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the direction indicated by the lines 8-8 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 7

erant circulating system,may be disposed' within the upper part of chamber I4. The chamberv I4 is divided into a plurality of superimposed compartments or storage spaces by vertically spaced' apart horizontally disposed shelves I'I. The cabinet outer metal wall member II and the metal liner I2 are each provided with an aperture which register with one another to provide the chamber I4 with an access opening at'the front of the cabinet I0. 'A pivotally mounted and suitably insulated door I8 normally closes the food storage chamber access opening. The shelves II may be supported at the rear of chamber I4 by pegs or the like I9 mounted upon or secured to the chamber back wall. Since the present invention is directed to improving the appearances of the interior of a food storage chamber 0f. a, refrigerator cabinet and particularly atV the front portion thereof, I contemplate the elimination of shelf.

hooks or pegs projecting from the side wallsl of the chamber metal liner.

-I2 is also bent, as at 2d tovprovide a flangelike mounting portion 26 adjacent its edge. A mould element or trim strip 21, of any suitable or desirable substantially hard insulating material, overlaps the edges of the metal members I I and I2 and bridges the gap between their edges at the access opening of cabinet I0 to form a wall for the chamber throat or door opening. A plurality of spaced apart screws 28 extend through mould element 2'I and are threaded into the edge portion 2| of the outer cabinet wall II..

A plurality of screws 29 extend through the mould element 21 at spaced apart points therealong adjacent its other or inner edge portion and are threaded into the mould mounting edge portion 26 of liner I2,- These screws 28 and 28 securely hold the mould element 21 in position on the vcabinet walls and definitely space the edge of the metal members a predetermined distance apart, At vertically spaced apart points, along the flanged mounting edge portion 28 of liner I2, I provide a 'plurality of depressed portions 3| (see Fig. 4). A rigid means or element such as a flat angle iron-like metal piece 33 is disposed between the inner edge of mould element 21 and the outwardly formed portion 22 of liner I2. This element 33 has a part 34 thereof extending behind the mould element 21 and disposed in one of the depressed portions 3I provided in the mounting edge portion 2B of liner I2. A screw 38 passes through the extension or part 34. of element 33 and through the liner ange 28 and has a nut 31 threaded upon the end thereof to rigidly secure the element 33 to the liner I2 at a point beyond or outside of the wall of chamber I4, The part of element 33 Adisposed between the edge of mould element 21 and the outwardly formed portion 22 of liner I2 lies in a plane substantially paralieling the plane of the liner portion 22 and extends or projects, as at 38, inwardly of the mould element beyond the side wall of chamber I4. 'Ihe projecting end part 38, of element 33, provides a support for one of the shelves I1 and this support is located between the inner face of door I8 and the storage chamber proper.

Each shelf I1 includes relatively heavy front and back rails 4I having a plurality of spaced apart Wires 42 secured thereto to form a food supporting surface within chamber I4 and to divide the chamber into superimposed food storage spaces or compartments. The projecting end part 38, of element 33, extends away from the chamber.

throat or away from the wall of the door opening a, suiiicient distance to permit, preferably, two of the wires 42 at each side of a shelf I'I to be lsupported upon supports 38 disposed in horizontal alignment with one another and located upon opposite sides of the chamber throat. In this form of the invention the shelf supports are sta-- tionarily mounted exteriorly of chamber I4 adi jacent the front thereof and shelf supports of the type disclosed can, if desired, be detachably mounted to accommodate changed positions of vertically adjustable shelves. For this reasonI will Ahereinafter describe an adjustable shelf mounting incorporated in the throat or door opening structure4 of a food storage chamber of a' refrigerator cabinet.

Referring now to Figs. to 9 inclusive, .of the drawings, I have shown a modified form of my cured to the back rim 4Ia thereof (see Figs. 7

and 8). Except for the provision of the members 5I, for cooperating with the pegs I9a in a manner to be presently described, the shelves |1a are of the same construction as the shelves I1. In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, the depressed portions in the mounting ange edge portion 26a of the liner I 2a are omitted and a plurality of spaced apart vertically elongated openings 53 (see Fig. 7) are provided in the reversely bent portions 231! 0I the i liner |,2a

along both side walls of the door opening for the chamber 14a. A substantially at metal shelf support generally represented by the reference character 54 and comprising an inner enlarged head portion 55, a web part 56, a depending leg 51 and an end portion 58, is disposed between the mould element 21a and the outwardly formed portion 22a of the chamber liner I2a.. 'I'he shelf support or metal element 54 lies in a plane substantially paralleling the outwardly formed portion 22a of liner 12a. and is bent as at 58 (see Fig. 6) so as to cause a part of the element 54 to abut or bear against the portion 22a of liner I2a. A notch 8| provided in element 54, and which notch creates the formation of the web portion 58 thereof, fits over the bottom wall of an opening 58 in the reversely bent part ofv liner I2a. The bordering edges 62 of the head part 55 of element 54 engage the one surface of the liner portion 23a and a bordering edge 63 of leg 51 engages the other surface of liner portion 23a to removably retain the element 54 in position. The end portion 58 of element 54 projects inwardly of mould element 21a beyond the wall of chamber I4a to provide a support for one of the shelves I1a.

With the element 54 attached to the cabinet as shown in full lines in Fig, 7, of the drawings, the back rail 4Ia of shelf Ila engages and is supported upon thepeg I9a, while the side wires 42a engage and are supported upon the support element 54. When the shelf Ila is desired to be adjusted or lowered into a different horizontal plane Withinchamber I4a, the shelf supportingelement 54 is removed from the one opening 58 and is replaced into another or a lower opening 58, as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 7, by vertical movement thereof along the edge of mould element 21a. With the element 54 mounted as shown in Fig. 7, in the dot-dash line position thereof,: the `back rim 4Ia of shelf Ila is disposed a considerable distance below the peg |911. and the yoke portion of the inverted U- shaped members 5I thus serve to engage the peg Isa and support the shelf at the rear of chamber lI4'L, in its adjusted or lowered position.

It will be noted that the openings 56 in the reverse bent portion 23a of liner I2a, are of a greater elongation than the distance across the web portion -58 of the shelf support element 54. Therefore, in order to remove the element 54 from its attachment to the liner I 2a, it is first elevated to permit the lower wall 52 of the head thereof 4to clear the bottom wall of opening 53. Thereafter the end 58 of element 54 is rotated to cause the bottom portion of head 55 -to move outwardly of opening 56 into an angular position as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. Element 54 is then lowered, to remove the upper portion of its head 55 from the opening 55. 'I'his movement of element 54 takes place within the space between the mould element 21a and the outwardly formed portion 22a of liner I2a to detach same from the cabinet.y ment 54 or the replacement thereof into another of the openings 53 is carried out in reverse order to that described relative to detachment thereof.

Since the front edge or rail of the shelf is dis- The attachment to the cabinet of eleposed in the same horizontal plane withV the shelf supporting parts of the supports it'substantially conceals the relatively thin metal shelf supports at the chamber opening and the front shelf supports are invisible or unnoticeable when viewed from exteriorly of the chamber to thereby improve the appearance of the front portion of the chamber. By incorporating a shelf support in the throat structure of a food storage chamber or in the wall construction of the access:

v vided with a metal outer wall member and an inner metal liner member defining Walls of a food storage chamber within said cabinet, each of said members having an aperture therein registering with one another to provide an access opening for said chamber, a door for normally closing said access opening, the edges of said ,metal members being spaced apart at said access My invention is applicable to' opening tobreak the metal-to-metal contact.

therebetween, a mold element forming a wall for said access opening and concealing the edges of said members at said opening, a. portion of said metal liner adjacent the edge thereof being formed outwardly, shelf supporting means-disposed between the edge of said mold element and said liner, said means having a part thereof concealed by said mold element and secured to said liner in back of the mold element, and said means also having another part thereof projecting inwardly of said mold element beyond said liner to provide a support for ,a shelf adapted to be positioned within said chamber.

2. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet provided with a metal outer wall member and an inner metal liner member defining walls of a food storage chamber within said cabinet, each of said -members having an aperture therein registering.

with one another to provide an` access opening for said chamber, a door for normally closing said access opening, the edges of said metal members being spaced apart at said access open,- ing to break the metal-to-metal contact therebetween, a mold element forming a wallfor said access opening and concealing the edges of said members at said opening, a portion of said metal liner adjacent the edge thereof being formed outwardly, shelf supporting means disposed between the edge of said mold element and said liner, said means having a part thereof concealed by said mold element and secured toa portion of said liner adjacent its edge, and the part of said means disposed between the edge of said mold element and the outwardly formed portion of v said liner terminating inwardly of said mold element beyond said liner to provide a support for a shelf adapted to be positioned within said chamber.

3. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet provided With a metal outer wall member and an inner metal liner member defining walls of a food storage chamber within said cabinet, each of said members having an aperture therein registering with one another -to provide an access opening for said chamber, a door for normally closing said access opening, the edges of said metal members being spaced apart at said access opening to break the metal-to-metal contact f having a part thereof concealed by said mo1d` element and secured to a. portion of vsaid liner adjacent its edge, and the part of said metal element disposed between the edge of 'said mold element and the outwardly formed portion of said liner terminating inwardly of said mold element beyond said liner to provide a support between the chamber proper and the inner face of said door for a shelf adapted to be positioned within said chamber.

4.' In combination, a refrigerator cabinet provided with a metal outer wall member `and an inner metal liner member dening walls of a food storage chamber within saidcabinet, each of said members having an aperture therein registering with one another to provide an access opening for said chamber, a door for normally closing said access opening, the edges of said metal members being spaced apart at said access opening to break the metal-to-metal contact therebetween, a mold element forming a wall for said access opening and concealing the edges of said members at said opening, a portion of said metal liner adjacent the edge thereof being formed outwardly, said outwardly formed portion -of said liner being reversely bent and having a' anged edge part extending therefrom to pro'- vide a mounting portion for said mold element,-

a rigid angle iron-like shelf supporting element having a part thereof disposed between the edge of said mold element and said outwardly formed portion of said liner, one end portion of said angle iron-like element extending parallel with l said mold element and being secured to the flanged edge part of said' liner in back of said mold element, and the part of said angle ironlike element disposed between the edge of said mold element and the outwardly formed portion of said liner terminating inwardly of said mold element beyond said liner to provide a support for a shelf adapted to be positioned within said chamber. i

5. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet provided with a metal outer .wall member and an inner metal .liner member defining walls of a food storage chamber within said cabinet, each of said members having an aperture therein registering with one another to provide an access opening for said chamber, a door for normally closing said access opening, the edges of said metal members f being spaced apart at said access opening to break the metal-to-metal contact therebetween, a mold element forming a wall for said access opening and concealing the edges of said membersat said opening, a portion of said metal liner adjacent the edge thereof being formed outwardly, said outwardly formed portion of said liner being reversely bent and having a iianged edge part extending therefrom to 'provide a mounting portion for said mold'element, shelf supporting means disposed between the edge of Asaid mold element and said outwardly formed portion of said liner, said means having a part thereof paralleling said mounting portion of said liner and said mold element and being secured to the anged edge part of said liner in back of said mold element, and the part of said means disposed between the edge of said mold element and the outwardly formed portion of said liner terminating inwardly of said mold element beyond said liner to provide a support between the chamber proper and the inner face of said door for a shelf adapted to be positioned within said chamber.

6. In combination, a'refrigerator cabinet provided with a metal outer wall member and an inner metal liner member defining walls of a food storage chamber within said cabinet, each of said members havingan aperture therein registering with one another to provide an access opening for said chamber, a door for normally closing said access opening, the edges of said metal members being spaced apart at said access opening tov break the metalto-metal contact therebetween, a mold element forming a wall for said access opening and concealing the edges of said members at said opening, a portion of said metal liner adjacent the edge thereof being formed outwardly, said outwardly formed portion of said liner being reversely bent and having a anged edge part extending therefrom to provide a mounting portion for said mold element, said reverselybent portion of said liner having a plurality of spaced apart openings therein, shelf supporting means disposed between said outwardly formed portion of said liner and an edge of said mold element, said means having a part thereof fitting within onemof said openings in said reversely bent portion of said liner and interlocked therewith, said portion of said means disposed between said outwardly formed portion of said liner and the edge of said mold element terminating inwardly of said mold element beyond said liner to provide a support for a shelf adapted to be positioned within said chamber.

7. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet provided with a metal outer wall member and an inner metal liner member defining walls of a food storage chamber within said cabinet, each of said members having an aperture therein registering with one another to provide an access opening for said chamber, a door for normally closing said access opening, the edges of said metal members being spaced apart at said access opening to break the metal-to-metal contact therebetween, a mold element formingr a wall for said access opening and concealing the edges of said members at said opening, a portion of said metal liner adjacent the edge thereof being formed outwardly, said outwardly formedportion of said liner being reversely bent and having a flanged edge part extending therefrom to provide a mounting portion for said mold element, said reversely bent i portion of said liner having a plurality of spaced apart 4openings therein, a relatively flat metal shelf supporting piece disposed between said outwardly formed portion of said liner and an edge of said mold element, said metal piece having a` part thereof extending through one of said openings in said reversely bent portion of said liner and terminating in a hooked end engaging the outer surface of said liner to hold the metal piece in position, and said metal piece extending inwardly of said mold element beyond said liner to provide .a support for a shelf adapted to be positioned within said chamber.

8. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet provided with a metal outer wall member and an inner metal liner member defining walls of a food storage chamber within said cabinet, each of said members havin-g an aperture therein registering with one another to provide an access opening for said chamber, a door for normally closing said access opening, the edges of said metal members being spaced apart at said access opening to break the metal-to-metal contact therebetween, a mold element forming a wall for said access opening and concealing the edges of said members at said opening, a portion of said metal liner adjacent the edge thereof being formed outwardly, said outwardly formed portion of said liner being reversely bent and having a fianged edge part extending therefrom to provide a mounting portion for said mold element, said reversely bent portion of said liner having a plurality of spaced apart openings therein, a relatively fiat metal shelf supporting piece disposed between said outwardly formed portion of said liner and an edge of said mold element, said metal piece having a part thereof extending through one of said openings in said reversely bent portion of said liner and terminating in a hooked end engaging the outer surface of said liner to hold the metal piece in position, said metal piecey extending inwardly of said mold element beyond said liner to provide a support for a shelf adapted to be positioned within said chamber, and said metal piece being movable to release its hooked end from said linerand permit same to be detached from said cabinet.

9. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet provided With an inner liner defining walls of a food storage chamber therein, said cabinet having an aperture Itherein providing an access opening for said chamber, a mold element forming a wall for said chamber access opening, a door for normally closing said opening, shelf supporting means disposed between said liner. and said mold element at each side of said chamber access opening, each of said means including a part secured to said cabinet exteriorily of said chamber and concealed by said mold element, and each of said means including another part extending inwardly of the side walls of the chamber access opening to form supports at the front of said chamber for a shelf adapted to be positioned therein. v 10. In `combination, a refrigerator cabinet provided with an inner liner defining walls of a food storage chamber therein, said cabinet having an aperture therein providing an access opening for said chamber, a mold element forming a wall for said chamber access opening, a door fol normally closing said opening, shelf supporting means disposed between said liner and said mold element at each side of said chamber access opening, each of said'means including a part secured to said cabinet exteriorily of said chamber and concealed by said mold element, andv each of said means including another part extending inwardly of the side Walls of the chamber access opening between the chamber proper and the inner face of said door to form supports at the front of said chambery for a shelf adapted to be positioned therein.

EDMUND F. SCHWELLER. 

